What Do Proofreaders Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for proofreaders?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what proofreaders do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Proofreaders Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about proofreaders by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Proofreaders read transcript or proof type setup to detect and mark for correction any grammatical, typographical, or compositional errors. Excludes workers whose primary duty is editing copy. Includes proofreaders of braille.
Popular Job Titles For Proofreaders
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Proofreaders
- Content Coordinators
- Typesetters
- Legal Proofreaders
- Braillists
- Creative Coordinators
- Video Coordinators
- Online Content Coordinators
- Copy Coordinators
- Proofreaders/Editors
- Archive Managers
- Graphic Designers/Typesetters
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for proofreaders can be found.
Best Industries for Proofreaders
Proofreaders Jobs By Industry
- Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers: 28.7%
- Employment Services: 8.5%
- Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services: 6.7%
- Business Support Services: 5%
- Religious Organizations: 4.8%
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: 4.5%
- Other: 41.8%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of proofreaders can be found working in the Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers sector. In 2022, about 28.7% of all jobs for proofreaders were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Employment Services (8.5%), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (6.7%), Business Support Services (5%), Religious Organizations (4.8%) and Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (4.5%).
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Proofreaders
Learn to craft clear and effective messages while adding new media communication methods to your professional toolkit.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
What Do Proofreaders Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what proofreaders do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work proofreaders do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that proofreaders tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Proofreaders
Top 5 Common Skills for Proofreaders
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 1,058 | 51% |
| Detail Oriented | 902 | 43% |
| Grammar | 815 | 39% |
| English Language | 663 | 32% |
| Writing | 634 | 30% |
For common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for proofreaders, followed by detail oriented, grammar, english language, writing and editing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 1,058 | 51% |
| Detail Oriented | 902 | 43% |
| Grammar | 815 | 39% |
| English Language | 663 | 32% |
| Writing | 634 | 30% |
| Editing | 492 | 24% |
| Microsoft Office | 456 | 22% |
| Microsoft Excel | 451 | 22% |
| Research | 325 | 16% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 322 | 15% |
| Ability To Meet Deadlines | 319 | 15% |
| Microsoft Word | 298 | 14% |
| Organizational Skills | 296 | 14% |
| Management | 287 | 14% |
| Prioritization | 275 | 13% |
| Self-Motivation | 260 | 12% |
| Customer Service | 243 | 12% |
| Microsoft Outlook | 238 | 11% |
| Multitasking | 226 | 11% |
| Time Management | 220 | 11% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Proofreaders
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Proofreaders | 5,519 | 67.1% |
| Content Coordinators | 1,413 | 17.2% |
| Typesetters | 123 | 1.5% |
| Legal Proofreaders | 414 | 5% |
| Braillists | 73 | 0.9% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was proofreaders, with 1,084 unique job postings. Content coordinators were second, with 49 postings, followed by typesetters, legal proofreaders and braillists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to proofreaders.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Proofreaders | 5,519 | 67.1% |
| Content Coordinators | 1,413 | 17.2% |
| Typesetters | 123 | 1.5% |
| Legal Proofreaders | 414 | 5% |
| Braillists | 73 | 0.9% |
| Creative Coordinators | 58 | 0.7% |
| Video Coordinators | 53 | 0.6% |
| Online Content Coordinators | 39 | 0.5% |
| Copy Coordinators | 27 | 0.3% |
| Proofreaders/Editors | 32 | 0.4% |
| Archive Managers | 49 | 0.6% |
| Graphic Designers/Typesetters | 11 | 0.1% |
| Brand Coordinators | 15 | 0.2% |
| Multimedia Coordinators | 15 | 0.2% |
| Proofers | 322 | 3.9% |
| Translators/Proofreaders | 12 | 0.1% |
| Key Holders | 6 | 0.1% |
| Technical Coordinators | 10 | 0.1% |
| Athletic Coordinators | 22 | 0.3% |
| Elementary Coordinators | 10 | 0.1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for proofreaders? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for proofreaders.
How much do proofreaders make?
Proofreaders: How do you become one?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.